Why are Hip Poses So Wonderful?

by Fae Leslie HoffmanJuly 04, 20182 min read

More likely than not, my students request poses to open the hips. I am never surprised. Our hips are one of the most common places that tighten up the moment we look away. The reason why? Sitting. When we sit, our hips flexors tighten since they are at a shortened posture. This affects the spine directly since it then overcompensates to move the body in ways the tight hips cannot. Increased spinal movement affects the lower back and lumbar spine, which is that place we (even though we try not to) constantly overuse to lift, bend, and stand. Cue the back pain.

Hip poses feel incredible because they make room for your spine and increase circulation beginning at the base of your spine, which is where the rest of your body begins to move from. These poses also can stretch the sides of your body and all the way down to your feet.

Since the hips are in the second chakra, the sacral chakra, they are really great at holding guilt. The second chakra is associated with water. It begins at the sacrum and is the center of pleasure. Not just pleasure of the body, but pleasure of play and creativity. It is a place of uninhibited self. It is where the true you begins. And that’s why it’s so easy for it to get blocked. Do you have anything in your life that stops your creativity? Anything that can’t deal with your sense of play and your need for expression? I find almost every day that something in the world tells me to simmer down or be more like every other human or not get so excited. This is where all those emotions go.

Please find some time each day to do at least one hip pose! You do not have to hold on to your guilt. You do not have to be in pain when you stand. You can allow yourself to enjoy all the pleasures you want in this life.

Meet Our Writers

Our Writers

Julie Bertagna

Julie Bertagna is a 500 RYT and certified Baptiste yoga teacher who teaches Baptiste power yoga and recovery yoga at Namaspa Yoga & Massage, as well as in her home studio, The Yoga Loft, in Bend. She is a mother and a grandmother, she loves the outdoors, and she still pursues dental hygiene one day a week! In the summer, she spends time at her partner's retreat venue, Vernonia Springs, which puts on retreats and special events. More information about Julie’s offerings can be found on her website, www.juliebertagnayoga.com.

Liz Skarvelis

Yoga is everything to Liz. It's her physical and spiritual practice, her political action, and her love song to both herself and the world. She started practicing yoga in college and grew her roots when she moved to San Francisco in 2008. She practiced Bhakti Yoga (yoga of love and devotion) at Yoga Tree Castro with Janet Stone, who she considers her first and primary teacher. Yoga brings her freedom of mind, stillness of spirit, and strength of being that she strives to share with others. Her classes are soft and strong and everything in between; she includes meditation, breath work, and space to connect you to your truest self. You can also expect a few helpings of (occasionally funny) humor. For more information, go to her website: www.lovebirdyoga.com

Fae Leslie Hoffman

Fae is a butterfly leaf girl. She teaches yoga, cartwheels in the rain, reads ferociously, and is learning how to listen to stillness. Fae has been published in The Southampton Review, elephant journal, Mukha Yoga, and writes best barefoot. She completed her 200-hour teacher training with Leslie Pearlman and is trained in Vinyasa with a fierce Forrest influence. She is also certified in Thai massage and has taught in New York, Thailand, Oregon, Wisconsin, and deep in the backwoods of California. Yoga makes her brave.

Zia Estrella

An exotic stargazer from the land of the intuitive ones, Zia embodies physicality, possibility, and empowerment in lighthearted playfulness. She loves the truth with allherheart and lives it with allherbeing. She grounds down intoherdeep dark Taína roots to rise. Humbled to practice and study yoga since 2007, she lives in wholeness, giving full credit to each and every emotion she experienceswhileembracing the power of the now moment. Shiftingherperspective to realize the eternal inner light within isher Dharma. She got turned upsidedown on the True North path of yoga and she rememberedherPrem - TruthLoveBeauty. This isherdeepest source of empowerment, creativity, joy and peace. May she transform darkness into light throughherown journey and serve all beings everywhere in truth, love and beauty. Learn more at www.scorpiorisingyoga.com

Womens Clothing

Mens Clothing

Subscribe

Sign up to get the latest on sales, new releases and more …

Adho Mukha

Adho Mukha in Sanskrit means "Facing", Our name Mukha Yoga came about because in our life's we are all on a journey of some kind and as we stand to look and face them we are reminded through yoga to breathe and flow